Coyote Tricks: A Coyote at Hogwarts

The Battle, part II

Esmeralda Goodbody flew through the night sky, hoping against hope. She had emerged with Kit from the gate in the forest. They’d had to deal with a goblin guarding the gate. She was now painfully reminded that the creatures she knew as ruthless bankers were once ruthless killers and their Underhill relatives still were.

Kit had stared in the direction of the castle.
“The defensive barrier around the forest is down,” he said. “The attack must have begun.”
He dropped and sniffed the ground, then stood again.
“A group of creatures from Underhill went off towards the castle,” he turned and looked back towards the gate. “But Valdune went back Underhill.”

He looked thoughtful for a moment.
“Whatever Valdune is after, it’s in the Chamber of Secrets. There is a nexus in that Chamber, I’m sure of it. Where there is a nexus there can be a gate.”
“What does that mean?”
“That the whole attack may just be a diversion while he enters the castle from below.”

Kit turned to her.
“I don’t suppose you have some flying spell up your sleeve?”
Goodbody smiled and with a flick of her wrist a broom appeared in her hand.
Kit grinned. “Fly to the Castle and go straight to the Chamber of Secrets.”
Kit explained how to find the Chamber.

“Where are you going?” Goodbody asked as she mounted the broom.
“I’m following Valdune. Hopefully one of us will stop him before he gets whatever he is after.”

~~~

The Bane Sidhe’s mace broke through Dannon’s guard and struck Swift Wind. The Elven Steed cried in pain and stumbled. Dannon fell and the Bane Sidhe was on him. The Elven Knight cried out in agony as the Bane Sidhe gave out its deadly wail and began to feed on Dannon’s very essence.

Then the Bane Sidhe was gone as an abnormally large Fox with five tails struck it. The two figures landed a few feet away and faced each other. The Bane Sidhe gave out its wail but the magical earmuffs had stayed with Shippo even in his transformation to his true form.

The Fox growled as its tails thrashed angrily. The Bane Sidhe angry at being deprived of it’s prey, started toward the Fox when with a mighty bellow, Hagrid charged from its side and smashed his iron mace into the monster’s shoulder. The cracking of bones was heard clearly even over the horrifying shriek the Bane Sidhe let out as the Cold Iron burned its flesh.
“Heart Scar!”
The Fox leapt onto the Bane Sidhe, digging its fangs into the creature’s shoulders. Injured and in pain, the Bane Sidhe threw the Fox off and fled into the darkness.

Transforming again, Shippo ran to Dannon as Hagrid and Toshiro harried the Unseelie horde slowly closing in around them.
“Much thanks, Fox.” Dannon said weakly as Shippo helped him stand.
“Don’t thank me yet,” Shippo said as they backed towards the steps. Dumbledore and Snape had descended to meet them casting spell after spell but most of the Unseelie creatures easily affected by mortal magics had either already been killed or driven off.
The ring of foes around them, illuminated by the spells of the Wizards on the steps and Toshiro’s Fox Fire attacks, was slowly closing in sensing victory.

~~~

The Coyote growled and slavered as it slowly stalked towards Harry, Ron, Hermione and Hanako. A whimper escaped Ron’s lips but he stood his ground next to Harry providing what protection they could for the girls behind them.

The Coyote crouched to spring when another Coyote rammed into its side. The two canines, exact duplicates of each other right down to the rosary necklaces around their necks, rolled into a snarling ball of fur and fangs. The others watched as they fought unable to differentiate one from the other. Harry, Ron and Hermione watched uncertain of what to do, afraid that interfering might hurt the real Kit.

Valdune, however, had no compunctions about sacrificing an ally. He raised his arm to strike but Harry seeing the movement tackled the Sidhe Lord just as he released the bolt of bael fire. The bolt went wide missing one of the Coyotes but the other was not so lucky. Catching the bolt in its midsection the Coyote burst into blue flames and was consumed in an instant. The other Coyote was thrown clear by the blast, landing against a stone pillar with a yelp.

“Mortal Whelp,” Valdune said to Harry. “Thou has’t interfered with our plans for the last time!”
The Elf’s eyes flashed with an inner light as he raised his hand again but then froze. Harry waited for the strike to fall but it didn’t.
“H…Harry!” Ron called pointing behind the other boy.
Harry turned and saw a figure walking towards him and Valdune. It was dressed in elaborate garb that Harry guessed was ancient Egyptian. Atop its shoulders was an elaborate mask. As Harry watched the mask began folding in on itself until it disappeared behind the wearer’s head, revealing a young man not much out of his teens.

The mysterious figure spoke in a language Harry didn’t understand. His voice had an odd reverberation to it as well.
“Ra,” Valdune whispered.
Ra spoke some more and Valdune answered in the same language. Ra did not seem pleased with the answer and his speech became angry. Ra raised his hand and the stone in an intricate piece of jewelry on his hand began to glow.
“NO!” Valdune cried and leaping up ran into the gate.

Ra disappeared.
“What the hell was that?” Ron asked.
“What he feared the most,” Ms. Goodbody said stepping into the room.
“How did you know he feared Egyptian Sun Gods?” Hermione asked.
“I didn’t the spell just visualizes target’s worst fears.”
“Like a Boggart,” Ron said.
“Exactly.”

“How did you get in here?” Hermione asked.
“The Apparation Shields are down.”
Their discussion was interrupted as the surviving Coyote let out a growl and staggered to its feet.

“Is it Kit?” Ron asked in shaky voice.
“Heel!” Hanako said.
The Coyote crashed to the ground.
“It’s Kit,” Harry said.

~~~

The ring of foes around them, illuminated by the spells of the Wizards on the steps and Toshiro’s Fox Fire attacks, was slowly closing in sensing victory. Toshiro stepped in front of them and, wrapping spell scroll around the hilt, he thrust his sword into the ground. As he chanted, a wall of magical energy radiated out from the sword forming a dome shaped barrier around the defenders. The attackers threw themselves against it, battering it with spells and arms. The barrier held but sweat beaded on Toshiro’s brow as he held the sword hilt chanting.

Hagrid was holding Dannon in his arms, the Elf too weak to stand.
“Thank you,” Dannon said to Shippo. “It was a good battle.”
“It’s not quite over yet,” the Kitsune said. “I have a few tricks left.”
Shippo reached into his pocket for a small toy which he flung at the enemy.
“Fox Magic: Kaju Attack!”

With a massive cloud of smoke, the small toy turned into the towering figure of Godzilla which leaned back and gave his trademark roar. The Unseelie horde hesitated and some broke ranks and fled back towards the forest. But many remained and they rallied behind the last remaining Sidhe, a magus minor. With a burst of magical energy the Sidhe Magus dispelled the illusion. Godzilla faded away in mid roar.

Snape and Dumbledore cast their spells at the Sidhe but they were stopped by an invisible wall in front of the magus.
“Your pitiful spells are no match for the Sidhe, Humans. Your success so far is only because I was the only magus here but it has gone on long enough. It is time to die.”
The remaining horde tore into the barrier. Toshiro dropped to both knees, the strain clearly visible on his face. The barrier flickered and shrank inward slowly.

Goodbody and Kit apparated before the castle door. Kit took in the situation quickly as he leaned against Goodbody for support.
“I need a clear shot,” he said indicating a spot on the field. “Can you teleport us over there?”
“Yes. But a clear shot for what?”
“Just do it!”

The barrier flickered again and the sword was now the only thing holding Toshiro up as his chanting became weaker. The others were preparing for the final charge when a fresh batch of spell bolts tore into the flank of the Unseelie horde. At the Sidhe’s direction, the Horde turned on this fresh threat and started across the field to deal with the two figures that challenged it. The Sidhe Magus remained pitting his energy against the barrier.

Goodbody looked at the monstrosities approaching them and glanced at Kit.
“I hope you have a good plan in mind…”
She stopped as a Kit staring at the approaching horde began to glow with a visible aura.
“What are you doing?”
“Shush!” Kit said through clenched teeth. “I’ve never done this on purpose before.”
She watched apprehensively, knowing he had not recovered from doing this in the cell and with his wounds….

The Horde wavered, sensing a massive surge of energy before them, but it was too late.
“Coyote Howl!” Kit yelled as he released the pent up spirit energy. The bolt, though weaker than before, still decimated the middle ranks of the Horde. The survivors scattered; confused and dazed they raced for the shelter of the forest to regroup.

“That’s sent them packing!” Hagrid said.
“Not yet,” Dumbledore said. “Look!”
Riding out of the forest came a dozen mounted figures, clad in silver armor.
“Reinforcements?” Snape said.

The Horde, however, did not seem pleased with this development and with good reason as these new Sidhe drew their swords and charged. The Unseelie, cut off from escape, had little choice but to meet their attackers. The Magus watched as the Horde perished and drawing a spell of concealment around himself teleported away.

“Who is that?” Goodbody asked looking at the Sidhe finishing off the Horde.
“Prince Terendil,” a lifeless voice said beside her.
She turned as Kit fell face down to the ground.
“Kit!” Shippo and Goodbody’s cries echoed together over the field.